News

Hospitals Oppose California Bill to Tighten Security

Becker Hospital Review, 3/23/11

By: Leigh Page March 23, 2011 Becker Hospital Review

Citing high costs, the California Hospital Association is opposing a bill in the state legislature that would require hospitals to tighten security and increase reporting of violent events, according to a report by the Los Angeles Times.

The California Nurses Association, which supports the bill, cited the death last October of a nurse in a jailhouse medical facility. While California hospitals are already required to report serious injuries and deaths, the proposed law would also require them to report all assaults and batteries on employees and patients, a spokeswoman for the nurses association said.

The hospital association warned the bill would put increased burdens on hospitals "without evidence that they will provide … benefits." However, the Assembly Committee on Health recently gave preliminary approval to the bill.